Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ... sciatica tortured him with unbearable pains. But nothing could turn him from the double task to which, with the clearness and strength of his genius, he had resolved to devote his untiring activity: (1) to force Europe to accept the new Empire; (2) to give the Empire a domestic organisation. Not satisfied with having brought this difficult offspring into the world, he wished to assure its future security by giving it healthy organs and some means of existence. Germany was at that time in such a ferment of exalted patriotism that she willingly afforded one man sufficient time and confidence to conceive and to carry out these plans. In Europe, the German Empire was a somewhat uncomfortable newcomer; by its very presence, this "big boy" interfered with everything. The cleverness with which Prince Bismarck had exploited European discontent against Napoleonic policy had allowed him to vanquish France and to conclude the treaty of Frankfort under the distrustful eye of Foreign Cabinets. But he could not delude himself so much as to think that they would not one day recover from their surprise and attempt to make him pay for it. As a fact, all the European Governments had been duped and were now vexed with themselves for allowing it. Prince Prince Bismarck rapidly drew up his Bismarck's plan of conduct towards the Powers. First of all, he wanted Germany to be strong, the strongest of European nations, and capable to stand, not only against one enemy, but a whole coalition; in order to obtain this, she must not hesitate to continue in time of peace those sacrifices made during the war. "To be master in one's own house, one must sweep one's own front steps." This was not enough; the lion's skin must be eked out with a piece of the...show more